There are some popular political beliefs and perceptions that are so absurd on their face that I am struck dumb when people bring them up - these include positive views of President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Senator Elizabeth Dole relating to their supposed competence or political skill. Dole's presidential campaign was a disaster, she's a poor politician, doesn't seem to get North Carolina its share of earmarks and spending, and her famous Republican Convention speech was one of the most fawning and fatuous things I've seen since I started observing politics at the end of the 1980's. And of course the notion that these 3 individuals are truly "nice" and "decent" is highly questionable (and that's being extraordinarily kind) given the politics and policies they support.
The latest bit of nastiest on Dole's part that makes her appear much more vile than her smiling facade - this. A "Big Pimpin'" anti-Harold Ford web site. I'm not a Ford fan. I mean it's great that there are at least a tiny handful of at least marginally good-looking people in Congress, and if he were to disappear then their numbers would fall by one (a big hit given how tiny the non-hideous caucus is). But his politics are marginally appealing, at best. Still, even if I don't like him, this is far from the type of politics a truly classy person would likely favor, and it implies a belief in winning races through nasty personal attacks, not serious consideration of important national issues. It would be nice if reporters and the public would keep actions like this in mind the next time they choose adjectives to use when describing Senator Dole.
Posted by armand at March 10, 2006 11:02 AM | TrackBack | Posted to Politicsthat's all fine and good, but it can't be too damaging since i can't find the stupid "fancy ford" website in the first place. why would someone blog so extensively on it but not furnish a link. i hate that.
Posted by: moon at March 10, 2006 12:44 PM | PERMALINKokay, found it via firedoglake, which itself was linked on pandagon.
Posted by: moon at March 10, 2006 01:02 PM | PERMALINKThe Republicans love retaliating against those who speak out against their failed choices by viciously and falsely attacking those people.
This is yet another example of that.
However, they are not going to get away with it this time.
Harold Ford Jr. represents a better future for all Tennesseeans and the Republicans know that.
Attacks like these on the Congressman will not stand because the people of Tennessee's desire for change carries far more weight than any attack the Republicans can issue.
We will not stand up for it!
Uh, while I'm certainly in favor of less-sleazy campaigning (I'm not, however, going to hold my breath waiting for it), I'm not sure that the quality of discourse is improved by statements like "Harold Ford Jr. represents a better future for all Tennesseeans and the Republicans know that" (which is uninformative and nonspecific) and "However, they are not going to get away with it this time." (Which actually looks false, as they seem to have gotten away with it).
That being said, Mr. Jackson's credibility took a hit (with me, at least) when I found him interviewing himself in an article. Last I checked, that wasn't an acceptable journalistic practice.
So, Dole is a mediocre politician (though there are certainly much worse ones around - anybody from Kansas comes to mind), and the Republican Party is being sleazy in campaigning. This is news?
Posted by: baltar at March 11, 2006 11:11 AM | PERMALINK